Game Plan

We met with Dr. Bopp on Wednesday, and he was excited that we had received the Cade Grant and eager to help make IVF a reality for us.  I went to our appointment with my list of questions and concerns…pretty organized and prepared for Sarah!  The biggest issue to discuss was money.  We needed concrete numbers to plan ahead financially.  We came up with the facts and figures we needed to know.  Dr. Bopp is going to also try and provide some samples for medication, which will be a huge help.  Our IVF is slightly more since we are using a procedure called ICSI.  Rather than put the egg and swimmer in a dish, ICSI allows them to directly put the sperm in the egg…increasing our chances even more. 

Other than money, timing was another concern.  Part of me was hoping as soon as we could pay for our portion, we’d rock and roll.  I’ve got sick days and was ready to use them.  What I hadn’t really thought about was the stress of getting sub plans ready, travelling back and forth from Carmel to Marion to Muncie, and the joys of standardized testing that come in the spring, IVF during the school year may not be the best choice.  I tend to get excited and want to get ahead of myself, but that’s where Joe comes in…with the common sense!  Dr. Bopp and Allison (his primary nurse) also agreed that IVF during the summer would just be the best time for us…less stress, less germs, and time to get things ready.

We have to have some initial screenings and blood work done, and we’ll start that in April.  This gives us time to work on healthier habits and take all of our vitamins!  Before Christmas, I had my TSH checked and am still waiting for the results.  We will keep a close eye on these thyroid levels between now and IVF.  Dr. Bopp wants my TSH between 1-2, so Dr. Orrell will help adjust and keep an eye on that. 

Timing is everything when you’re dealing with fertility, so we shall see when exactly our IVF will begin this summer.  The Cade Foundation is having a Race for the Family in Chicago on June 23, and we’ve already been planning to get friends and family together for that event.  Stacie and I are hoping to have a Fertili-Wine before all the testing and shots start…a great way to celebrate and raise money for the Cade Foundation. J

I still am wearing our blue bracelet from the banquet lunch.  “Cade Foundation…Overcoming Infertility” has worn off, but I still keep it on as a constant reminder of the blessing that we have received.  Sometimes it is easy to get overwhelmed and frustrated, so having a visual cue reminding me to be thankful comes in handy. 

In other non-IVF related news, Joe received his letter from Ivy Tech that his diploma will be in the mail soon!  He finished up with all A’s.  Woohoo! 

We may not update the blog every week, but we will try to just so everyone that wants to can keep up to date with the Jones’ Journey!  Thanks for the continued love, support, and prayers.  We are so thankful for our friends and family that are always there for us.  At the banquet, there were couples sharing their family and friends had no clue what they had been going through in trying to have a family.  It just made us sad, but thankful for the support system we do have!

Love, Sarah & Joe